Phones can now morph into Geiger counters, thanks to Scosche, whose RDTX radiation detector promises to warn users of nearby nuclear disasters.
RDTX works by plugging a specialized wand into iPhone or iPod, which then displays radiation levels on either a digital or analog screen.
The app measures average radiation exposure, rings an alarm if levels rise too high and even updates Facebook, Twitter and Google Maps to warn others of danger.
Scosche's app is set to become available in Japan next month for $330. The company plans to make a lower-cost, simplified version soon, but did not announce pricing or whether it will debut in other countries.
RDTX joins the $2 "Nuclear Site Locator" app for iPhones and Androids, which "provides you with a risk mitigation tool to assist with preparedness and evacuation planning," according to developer LogSat. The app reportedly contains information on all active and non-active nuclear reactors, complete with photographs and contact information.
In addition to nuclear disasters, other iPhone apps promise to warn people of impending natural disasters like earthquakes. Tomorrow, Apple is expected to unveil a mobile earthquake warning system for Japanese iPhone owners along with its iOS 5 package.
Even the FCC plans to alert U.S. citizens of widespread disasters through mobile channels. The Personal Localized Alerting Network, or PLAN, is set to debut in Washington, D.C., and New York by the year's end. It promises to provide localized texts should there be a tornado or hurricane heading toward a major city, for example.
RDTX, along with PLAN and other smartphone-based warnings systems, may save lives by providing faster communication about natural and man-made disasters.
